page_title: Women in Mali
section_title: Health care
hierarchical_section_title: Women in Mali / Health care
caption_attribution_description: English: Maternal Mortality Rate worldwide, given as "the annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes). The MMR includes deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, for a specified year." Reference: Country Comparison: Maternal Mortality Rate in The CIA World Factbook. Date of Information: 2010
context_page_description: The status and social roles of women in Mali have been formed by the complex interplay of a variety of traditions in ethnic communities, the rise and fall of the great Sahelien states, French colonial rule, independence, urbanisation, and postcolonial conflict and progress. Forming just less than half Mali's population, Malian women have sometimes been the center of matrilineal societies, but have always been crucial to the economic and social structure of this largely rural, agricultural society.
  Their role, too, has been shaped by the conflicts over religion, as animist societies gave way gradually to Islam in the 1100–1900 period. In recent years, the rise of religious fundamentalism has posed a thereat to women's wellbeing.
  Contemporary problems faced by women in Mali include high rate of violence against women, child marriage and female genital mutilation.
context_section_description: Mali is one of the world's poorest nations and is severely affected by poor health and sanitation. Women's health is negatively impacted, although
  the government provides subsidised medical care to children as well as adults of both sexes. The Constitution of Mali guarantees the right to health. The healthcare policy is based on community involvement, cost recovery and the availability of essential medicines, and it is developed by the Ministry of Health and implemented by the National Health Directorate. In Mali, maternal mortality and infant mortality are very high. Early marriage, lack of family planning, very high fertility, and female genital mutilation contribute to women's illhealth.
caption: Maternal mortality map, 2012
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